Paper roll holder



Oct. 15, 1957 A. A. KIRCHEL PAPER ROLL HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 17. 1954 PIP/0E A/QT IZZJU eator Oct. 15; 1957 A. A. KIRCHEL 2,809,790

PAPER ROLL HOLDER Filed Feb. 17. 1954 v2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f0 1 a" 77 T 1 1121) enter United States Patent PAPER ROLL HOLDER Alan Arthur Kirchel, Elmer's End, Beckenham, England, assignor to Muirhead & Co. Limited, Elmers End, Beckenham, England Application February 17, 1954, Serial No. 410,900 Claims priority, application Great Britain March 5, 1953 6 Claims. (Cl. 242-552.)

This invention relates to paper roll holders for use in instruments where a recording, printing or similar process takes place on a continuous strip of paper and it is particularly advantageous when applied to roll holders for use in electrolytic recording instruments.

Preferably means are included to enable initial adjustments to be made, when first setting up the roll holder, to locate the roll correctly in relation to the recording mechanism. I

The invention will now be further'described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a typical arrangement of an electrolytic recording mechanism.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the invention.

Figures 3 and 4 show stages in the process of mounting a roll.

Figure 5 shows a roll in position in the roll holder according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically the arrangement of major parts in an electrolytic recording apparatus of known type. The marking of the record sheet is accomplished by passing a current through the electro-sensitive recording paper between a transverse electrode or writing bar 1 and a rotating helix 2. The recording paper is drawn past the electrodes by means of a roller 3 driven by suitable means (not shown) operating in conjunction with a second roller, provided with springs (not shown), to keep the paper in contact with roller 3. The recording paper is drawn from stock roll 4.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the invention. Two studs, 5 and 5a respectively, are provided to enter the tube on which the paper roll is wound.-

Studs 5 and 5a are pivotally mounted on swinging brackets 6 and 6a which swing on pivots 7 and 8 and 7a and 8a. Fixed to each swinging bracket are arms 9 and 9a. Pressing against these arms to engage them are rollers 10 and 10a mounted on levers 11 and 11a mounted to rotate with a shaft 12. Lever 11a is fixed to shaft 12. Lever 11 is pivotally mounted on shaft 12, and adjusting lever 18 which is fixed to shaft 12, presses against lever 11, through adjusting screw 17. Shaft 12 can rotate in bearing blocks 13. Torsion spring 14 around the shaft 12, secured at one end thereto over a collar 14a and at the other end to a support under a screw 14b exerts a force through levers 11 and 11a and arms 9 and 9a to urge the flanged stud 5 and 5a inwardly towards each other against the action of spring 16, 16a until stop is engaged by lever 11 to limit further movement.

In this position the distance between the flanges of studs 5 and 5a is arranged to be something less than the axial length of the shortest paper roll.

The method of loading the paper roll is shown in Figure 3 where one end of the roll is placed over the stud as shown. A sideways force applied to stud 5 by means of the paper roll itself, will cause swinging bracket 6 to move to the right against spring 14, and by means of the mechanical linkage of levers 11 and 11a and shaft 12, at the same time swinging bracket 6a will move to the left under the influence of light spring 16a.

Hence the gap between studs 5 and Set will increase to admit the length of paper roll as seen in Figure 4.

When the sideways force exerted on the roll is relaxed, spring 14 will cause an inward movement of both swinging brackets 6 and 6a until the force of the spring is applied to the ends of the paper roll (see Figure 5). It will be understood that whatever the length of the paper roll, it will always be equally disposed about a central position. If this central position is adjusted to agree with the central position of the writing bar 1 then the minimum possible width of paper that can be used is that which is equal to the length of the writing bar.

Adjustment screw 17 (Figure 2) is provided for the purpose of adjusting the position of the paper roll with respect to the writing bar. According to the direction in which the screw 17 is turned, so the position of the paper roll will move to the left or the right.

The method of setting up this adjustment is to assemble any roll of paper and adjust screw 17 until the margin projection at each end of the writing bar is equal.

The studs 5 and 5a are shown each provided with a flange for abutment against the end of the paper or the formeror tube on which the paper is wound. The stud fitting into the tube may be roughly spherical in shape or alternatively it may be conical. The studs may be arranged with suitable bearings either of journal or selfaligning type or alternatively the studs may be rigidly attached to the swinging brackets 6 and 6a.

In a variation of the arrangement the effective radii of the operation of the swinging brackets 6 and 6a may bear a relation to each other which differs from the normal ratio of unity as described above (by variation of the lengths of arms 9 and 9a), in this case the margins of the paper will not be equal but will follow a known law.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A paper roll holder for use in instruments where a recording, printing or similar process takes place on a continuous roll of paper comprising a support, a pair of brackets pivotally mounted on the support, studs on the brackets for entering the respective ends of the tube on which the paper roll is wound, arms fixed to the brackets, a shaft rotatably mounted on the support and extending between the brackets, levers mounted on the shaft for engaging the arms on the brackets, and spring means acting between the shaft and the support to rotate the shaft to cause the levers to engage the arms and force the brackets inwardly towards each other.

2. A paper roll holder, as claimed in claim 1, including rollers mounted on the levers, which rollers engage the arms.

3. A paper roll holder as claimed in claim 1, comprising a stop carried on the support, said stop engaging one lever of the pair of levers to limit the inward movement of the brackets.

4. A paper roll holder as claimed in claim 1, comprising spring means acting between each bracket and the support, said spring means tending to movesaidbrackets outwards in relation to each other, said brackets being forced inwardly towards each other against the action of said springs.

5. A paper roll holder, as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the levers is adjustable in relation to the shaft about the axis of rotation thereof.

6. A paper roll holder as'claimed in claim 5, comprising an additional lever fixedto the shaft, said additional lever being urged towards the adjustable lever, and an adjusting screw for adjusting the separation between said additional lever" and said adjustable lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 741,988 Tierney Oct. 20, 1903 1,221,686 Collins Apr. 3, 1917 1,515,382 Cheesman Nov. 11, 1924 2,021,417 Hoffman Nov. 19, 1935 2,107,020

Williams Feb. 1. 1938 

